Hello all,
I'm new to the TFP community, joining after reading some helpful threads over the past week. I've been caring for my pool myself for the past year and a half, with a little "professional" help last summer. My wife and I fired them when they clearly intentionally broke some equipment. Guess they needed work... Well, they didn't get it.
Until recently, I'd had no problems keeping things in good shape with HTH and/or homedepot bought supplies. I'm coming around to the TFP methods after having some challenges and learning more about pool chem. Mostly hardness and CYA.
Right now I'm challenged with this: A month and a half ago I jumped in the pool and noticed a very heavy body odor from myself after getting out. I thought little of it at the time. A few weeks ago I jumped in again and not only did I notice it again, but also did my wife. It was very bad. Like I hadn't showed in a week from one 10 min swim. So I tested, adjusted, and restested, adjusted and all. The heat here in AZ has driven my chlorine out every few days. I use HDX liquid to replenish and tabs to maintain. And while I'm changing that practice ... That's how I'd started.
Measured with aquacheck silver 7 way (I just ordered a proper Taylor 2006)
hardness 1000
tc 5
fc 5
ph 7.6
ta 240
cya 300
right now the pool looks great - totally clear and BUT, the obvious above. And now when I get out of the pool my skin feels... Like I'm covered in chalk is the only way to put it. And later I get a bit itchy. Never happened before!
I have been aerating and putting in muriatic acid to lower ta and keep pH ideal. But that's a long road it seems. I also tried Bio-Active Pool stabilizer to lower CYA. But like many others have said... It didn't work.
my questions ...
Now, we don't use the pool every day. But now that the heat has set in here in Arizona and we'll have a house full of kids next week, I need to make sure the pool is swimmable and safe.
Thanks!
azy
I'm new to the TFP community, joining after reading some helpful threads over the past week. I've been caring for my pool myself for the past year and a half, with a little "professional" help last summer. My wife and I fired them when they clearly intentionally broke some equipment. Guess they needed work... Well, they didn't get it.
Until recently, I'd had no problems keeping things in good shape with HTH and/or homedepot bought supplies. I'm coming around to the TFP methods after having some challenges and learning more about pool chem. Mostly hardness and CYA.
Right now I'm challenged with this: A month and a half ago I jumped in the pool and noticed a very heavy body odor from myself after getting out. I thought little of it at the time. A few weeks ago I jumped in again and not only did I notice it again, but also did my wife. It was very bad. Like I hadn't showed in a week from one 10 min swim. So I tested, adjusted, and restested, adjusted and all. The heat here in AZ has driven my chlorine out every few days. I use HDX liquid to replenish and tabs to maintain. And while I'm changing that practice ... That's how I'd started.
Measured with aquacheck silver 7 way (I just ordered a proper Taylor 2006)
hardness 1000
tc 5
fc 5
ph 7.6
ta 240
cya 300
right now the pool looks great - totally clear and BUT, the obvious above. And now when I get out of the pool my skin feels... Like I'm covered in chalk is the only way to put it. And later I get a bit itchy. Never happened before!
I have been aerating and putting in muriatic acid to lower ta and keep pH ideal. But that's a long road it seems. I also tried Bio-Active Pool stabilizer to lower CYA. But like many others have said... It didn't work.
my questions ...
- what the heck is that body oder? It's NOT a "chlorine smell" - this is distinctively a BO smell
- should I have someone come in and do what ... refill / adjust?
- shall I just empty this beast myself and start fresh?
- can I do that by Saturday?
- How do I empty using my combo skimmer? Once the water line is below the skimmer the combo skimmer starts sucking air. Do I use a diverter for that? I don't have one.
- Should I rent a submersible pump from Home Depot and just do it?
Now, we don't use the pool every day. But now that the heat has set in here in Arizona and we'll have a house full of kids next week, I need to make sure the pool is swimmable and safe.
Thanks!
azy